A12190:1048
The returning backslider, or, A commentary upon the whole XIIII. chapter of the prophecy…The returning backslider, or, A commentarie upon the whole XIIII. chapter of the prophecy…
The returning backslider, or, A commentary upon the whole XIIII. chapter of the prophecy of the prophet Hosea Wherein is showed the large extent of Gods free mercy, even unto the most miserable forlorn and wretched sinners that may be, upon their humiliation and repentance. Preached by that learned and judicious divine, Dr. Sibbs, late preacher to the honourable society of Gray's Inn, and master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge. Published by his own permission before his death.The returning backslider, or, A commentarie upon the whole XIIII. chapter of the prophecy of the prophet Hosea Wherein is shewed the large extent of Gods free mercy, even unto the most miserable forlorne and wretched sinners that may be, upon their humiliation and repentance. Preached by that learned and judicious divine, Dr. Sibbs, late preacher to the honourable society of Grayes Inne, and master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge. Published by his owne permission before his death.
London: printed by George for George Edwards, 1639
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But wherefore did he go to the Father? why, to make application of what he had wrought. If Christ should not have gone to the Father, he could not have sent the Holy Ghost to us. Therefore there is great use of this going to his Father. Satan pleads before God we are such and such, I but saith Christ I have shed my blood for them, and there he perfumes all our weak prayers; if we were not imperfect what need we a Mediator in Heaven. Therefore he is gone to Heaven to disannul all Satan's accusations, and to provide a place for us; die when we will, our place is ready.
But wherefore did he go to the Father? why, to make application of what he had wrought. If Christ should not have gone to the Father, he could not have sent the Holy Ghost to us. Therfore there is great use of this going to his Father. Satan pleads before God we are such and such, I but saith Christ I have shed my blood for them, and there he perfumes all our weake prayers; if we were not imperfect what need we a Mediator in Heaven. Therefore he is gone to Heaven to disanull all Satans accusations, and to provide a place for us; die when wee will, our place is ready.
Then again he is gone to the Father to clothe us with a sweet relation, to make the Father our Father. For he saith, John 12.17. I go to my Father and to your Father; So that he is not ashamed to call us Brethren, by virtue of this we may go to God and call him Father, and when we die we may without presumption say; Father into thy hands I commend my spirit, for the Father loves us as he loved Christ, with one and the same love, though in a far different degree. What a comfort is this, that when we die, we go to our Father that is better then any earthly Father; Therefore it should joy us when the time of our departure comes: We see old Jacob when he saw the Chariots come out of Egypt, how his heart leaped because he should go to see his Son Joseph: So when death is sent to transport us to Christ, to Heaven, had we a strong faith we should be exceeding glad.
Then againe he is gone to the Father to cloath us with a sweet relation, to make the Father our Father. For he saith,